Central banks make the absurd claim that they operate independent of politics. In reality, they’ve always existed to please politicians. Their actions usually come at the expense of prudent savers.

For years the Fed has set interest rates lower than they would have been absent its intervention. It does this in the mistaken belief that it will benefit the economy by boosting spending. But encouraging spending just for the sake of spending isn’t sound economics.

Debtors also benefit because lower interest rates mean lower interest payments. And there is no bigger debtor on the planet than the US government.

Artificially low interest rates pump massive distortions into the economy. The results are disastrous for retirees.

Back in the year 2000, a five-year certificate of deposit would pay out about 6%. If you had $1 million, you could generate $60,000 per year with little risk.

Fast forward to today. The average CD now pays a meager 1.5%.

You now need $4,000,000 in retirement savings to generate that same $60,000 in annual interest income.

Saving money is four times harder than it was just 15 years ago, and the Fed is the culprit.

The Fed is siphoning money from savers by setting interest rates lower than what the free market would. It’s an enormous—but hidden—wealth transfer from savers to debtors. It amounts to one of the biggest swindles in world history.

But you don’t have to be a passive victim. If you take a global view, you can escape the Fed’s shakedown. Foreign investments can have higher yields and better risk/reward profiles.

Though chances are good that one of the big custodians—like Fidelity or Schwab—holds your retirement savings.

This is a problem because they put strict limits on what you can invest in. It’s like an investment straitjacket. Foreign investments likely aren’t on the menu.

There is no reason at all that it has to be this way, though.

An individual retirement account (IRA) can be set up to invest in pretty much anything in the world. It can open an offshore bank account and invest in higher-yielding CDs. It can own foreign stocks, foreign bonds, and foreign mutual funds. It can own physical gold stored abroad. It can invest in private companies. It can own foreign real estate and reap attractive rental yields.

There are almost limitless possibilities. The world is your investment oyster.

Structuring your IRA this way breaks the investment straitjacket imposed by the large custodians. It’s key to giving you more options with your retirement savings. It gives you a means to resist the Fed’s war on savers.

Getting set up is not difficult or expensive. But it’s not something you can do on your own. You’ll need to help of competent professionals.

We provide all the details and trusted contacts in our Going Global publication.